Executive Summary:
This trade notice from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) announces the online filing of requests for closure of Advance Authorizations. It details the process for online submission, document handling, and communication, utilizing DGFT's revamped IT systems. The notice aims to provide a paperless interface for exporters, importers, and other stakeholders.
Key Points / Main Content:
Online Submission for Closure of Advance Authorizations:
* Authorization holders must submit requests for Export Obligation fulfillment online to the DGFT Regional Authority (RA) per Para 4.46 of the Hand Book of Procedures 2015-20.
* This online facility can be used for Redemption, Surrender, Duty Paid Regularization, Bond Waiver, or Clubbing of Advance Authorizations.
* The online portal can be accessed via DGFT Website > Services > Advance Authorization/DFIA > Closure of Advance Authorization.
Document Handling and Repositories:
* Related documents are available for applicants on the DGFT Website under My Dashboard > Repositories > Bills Repositories.
* EDI Shipping Bills/Bill of Entries and eBRCs are automatically fetched from the DGFT-Customs interface and bank uploads, respectively.
* Applicants must upload Non-EDI Shipping Bills, Non-EDI Bill of Entries, GST invoices, CAC/ECS Certificates, TR Challans, and BGLUT to their online repositories.
* CAC/ECS certifying authorities can digitally sign and submit certificates electronically, or Authorization Holders can upload the CAC/ECS Certificate directly to the specific Repository.
Application Process:
* Applicants create a license closure application by linking documents already in the Repositories.
* Shipping Bills/Bill of Entries are automatically linked; other required details must be added to complete the application before submission.
* If Shipping Bills/Bill of Entries details are incomplete, applicants can update export serial numbers or fetch/add Bill of Entry data via the DGFT Website.
Physical Document Submission:
* TR Challan and Bank Guarantee Letter of Undertaking/Corporate Guarantee must be submitted physically to the RA's Receipts counter.
* Ordinarily, physical submission of the closure application or supporting documents is not required, but may be required in cases of genuine difficulty.
* All communications, clarifications, and deficiency letters will be issued online.
* Any physical documents submitted need to be recorded as a correspondence receipt in the online system by the RA and linked to the related online application.
Help and Guidance:
* Help manuals and FAQs are available on the DGFT Website under Learn > Application Help > FAQs.
* Further assistance can be obtained through the DGFT Helpdesk service link, toll-free Helpline, or email (dgftedi.gov.in).
Impact Analysis:
Authorization Holders:
* Impact: Required to use the online system for submitting closure requests and managing related documents.
* Action Required: Familiarize themselves with the online portal, upload necessary documents, and submit closure applications online.
Regional Authorities (RAs) of DGFT:
* Impact: Responsible for processing online closure applications and providing support to authorization holders.
* Action Required: Sensitize and handhold the trade community regarding the new process, record physical document submissions in the online system, and communicate online.
Trade and Trade Associations:
* Impact: Need to understand the new online process to assist their members.
* Action Required: Disseminate information about the online system to their members and provide guidance on using it.
Other Stakeholders of DGFT:
* Impact: Need to adapt to the new online system for Advance Authorization closures.
* Action Required: Familiarize themselves with the online portal and its functionalities.
Key Entities Referenced
Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi-110011: Location of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
GST invoices: Goods and Services Tax invoices which are required to be uploaded by the applicants to their respective online repositories prior to preparing the online closure application.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): The main governing body dealing with foreign trade policies and procedures in India, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Advance Authorization: A scheme that allows duty-free import of inputs, which are physically incorporated in export product (after making allowance for permissible wastage).
Hand Book of Procedures 2015-20: A document containing the procedures and guidelines for various foreign trade-related activities, including those related to Advance Authorizations.
Regional Authorities (RAs) of DGFT: Regional offices of the DGFT responsible for implementing and monitoring foreign trade policies at the regional level.
EDI Shipping Bills: Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) based shipping bills, which are used for customs clearance of export goods.
Bill of Entries: A document submitted to customs authorities for the import of goods.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi-110011
Dated: 30 March, 2021
Trade Notice No. 49/2020-21
EO;
1. All Advance Authorization Holders concerned
2. Members of Trade and Trade Associations
3. Regional Authorities (RAs) of DGFT
4. Other stakeholders of DGFT
Subject: Online Filing of requests for Closure of Advance Authorizations -reg
DGFT has revamped its IT systems to provide a paperless, contact-less, electronic
interface to the exporters/importers and other stakeholders of DGFT. The new IT System
amongst other improvements include process for managing the entire lifecycle of Advance
Authorizations including its issuance, amendment and closure.
ps In this regard it is hereby informed that Authorisation Holders are required to
make online submissions for fulfilment of Export Obligation to the DGFT Regional
Authority(RA) as per Para 4.46 of Hand Book of Procedures 2015-20. The given facility
may be utilized for Redemption, Surrender, Duty Paid Regularization, Bond Waiver or
the Clubbing of Advance Authorizations. Authorization Holder can utilize the given
facility by navigating online toDGFIT Website -—-> Services -—-> Advance
Authorization/DFIA ——-> Closure of Advance Authorization.
3: The related documents shall be available for the perusal of the concerned applicant
exporter under the DGFT Website ——-> My Dashboard ——> Repositories ——> Bills
Repositories. The EDI Shipping Bills/Bill of Entries are electronically and automatically
fetched from the DGFT-Customs Electronic interface. e-BRCs as uploaded by the banks are
also automatically available under the Bills Repositories.
4. The other related documents such as Non-EDI Shipping Bills, Non-EDI Bill of
Entries, GST invoices, CA/CE/CS Certificates, TR Challans, BG/LUT which are not
automatically available required to be uploaded by the applicants to their respective online
repositories prior to preparing the online closure application.
3 The facility for on-boarding of certifying authorities such as CA/CE/CS and for them
to digitally sign and submit certificates against the Exporter’s IEC electronically has also
been provided. However, the Authorisation Holder has option to upload the CA/CE/CS
Certificate directly to the specific Repository.
6. The Authorization holder may create a licence closure application by linking to the
documents as already added to the Repositories. While the Shipping Bills/Bill of Entries
would be automatically linked to the closure application, the other details as required, may be
added to complete the application prior to submission. In case complete details of Shipping
Bills/Bill of Entries are not visible in the application, applicant may navigate online to DGFT
Website ——> My Dashboard ——> Repositories > Bills Repositories ——> Select type of
bill and proceed with following actions:
1 of 2 Lyoo—add non-EDI shipping bills manually using “Add Non-EDI Shipping Bills” tab
Wherever required, the applicant may search the EDI shipping bill in repository and
update the export serial number under part E section in respective Shipping Bill to
ensure that the Advance Authorization export item(s) to the shipping bill item(s)
linkage is correlated correctly
If Bill of Entry data is not automatically available, fetch Bill of Entry for EDI ports
using “Get Bill of Entry from Customs” feature
add non-EDI Bill of Entries manually using “Add Details” tab
Wherever required, the applicant may search the EDI Bill of Entry in repository and
update the serial number in the respective Bill of Entry to ensure that the Advance
Authorization input item(s) to the Bill of Entry item(s) linkage is correlated correctly
(: It may be noted that the following documents are required to be submitted physically
to the Receipts counter at the RA -
1. TR Challan
ii. | Bank Guarantee / Letter of Undertaking /Corporate Guarantee.
8. Ordinarily the RA would not call for any physical submission of the closure
application or the supporting documents. However, in cases of genuine difficulty, physical
documents can be submitted to RA with the approval of the Head of the RA. An online
application with or without supporting documents is still required to be filed for such
applications. Any subsequent communication, clarification, deficiency letter or redemption,
needs to be issued through the online module.
9. Any physical documents submitted need to be recorded as a correspondence receipt in
the online system by the RA and linked to the related online application.
10. For any help and guidance on this new process, the Help manual & FAQs may be
accessed on the DGFT Website —>Learn ——> ‘Application Help & FAQs’. For any
further assistance, the following channels may be used -
i. Raise a service request/suggestion ticket through the DGFT Helpdesk service link
under Services — ‘Complaints & Suggestions'
ii. Call the DGFT toll-free Helpline number
iii. Send an email to dgftedi@gov.in
11. All RAs of DGFT are requested to sensitize and handhold the trade community with
regard to the above mentioned new process.
tZ: This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Vijay Kumar
Additional Director General of Foreign Trade
(Issued from File No.: 01/94/180/018/AM21/PC-4)
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